Neople, a subsidiary of the renowned South Korean gaming giant Nexon, is poised to launch its eagerly awaited hardcore RPG slasher, The First Berserker: Khazan, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms. Mark your calendars for the release date: March 27. To build anticipation, the developers have unveiled an eight-minute gameplay trailer that dives deep into the game's sophisticated combat mechanics.
The trailer highlights the three fundamental pillars of combat in The First Berserker: Khazan: attacking, dodging, and defending. Each action comes with its own stamina cost, with defending consuming significantly more than dodging. However, the payoff for a perfectly timed block is substantial—not only does it reduce stamina depletion, but it also lessens the impact of stun effects. On the other hand, dodging, which uses less stamina, requires precise timing and quick reflexes to fully leverage the invulnerability frames during these evasive maneuvers. As with many soulslike games, mastering stamina management is key to triumph in The First Berserker: Khazan.
Should Khazan's stamina be completely depleted, he enters a state of exhaustion, rendering him defenseless against enemy attacks. This mechanic adds a layer of strategy, as players can exploit it to drain the stamina of enemies with stamina bars before landing devastating blows. For foes without stamina bars, relentless attacks can gradually erode their resilience. These encounters demand patience, strategic positioning, and impeccable timing. Importantly, the game balances this challenge by ensuring that monster stamina does not regenerate over time, giving players a tactical edge in prolonged battles.